Bridge plug and dump bailer



N0 18, 1952 A. w. TUCKER BRIDGE PLUG AND DUMP BAILER 2 SI-IEETS-Sl-IEET l Flgd July 3, 1948 L v/N WILL/,4M fifa/ 52, j JNVENTOR.

lBY

rro/a/VEYS Naw 18, 1952l A, w, TUCKER 2,618,345

BRIDGE PLUG AND DUMP BAILER Filed July 5, 1948 2 SHEETS--SI'EET 2 Patented Nov. 18, 1952 BRIDGE PLUG AND DUMP BAILER Alvin W. Tucker, San Fernando, Trinidad, British West Indies Application July 3, 1948, Serial No.,37,007 In British West Indies yDecember .23, 1 947 20 Claims. 1

The V`present .invention relates to subsurface .well apparatusand `more particularly to apparatus .for forming a plug in a casing or linerk string,

o rin .the bore hole itself.

`Under some conditions encountered in a well bore, it is desirable to set a bridge plug in a casing, liner, or similar conduit string, and then dump cementitious material on top of the plug. .-Heretofore, .the nbridge .plug yhas first been set vin the rwell casing and then a dump bailer run in the casing to deposit the 4cement vor other material upon the plug. The separate setting of -the plug and -use of thedump bailer obviously .is a time consuming and relatively costly series of operations.

Accordingly, it is an object ofthe present invention to eiect lthe setting f ya bridge plug and the ydischarge of the cementitious material yupon .the plug Awith .a single trip in the well `casing or well bore.

. been performed.

Still another lobject of Ythe invention is to provide a comparatively simple bridge plug, which can vbe run in the well on a lwire line and anchored to the casing against 'longitudinal lmovement Vin both directions.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and-has other objects which may be'made more clearly apparent from a consideration of .several forms yin `which 'it may be embodied.

Such forms areshown inthe drawings Aaccompanying'and forming part of the present specfication. These lforms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it :is to be understood that such detailed ydescription is not to be taken in a limitingsensesince'ithe scope of the invention is .best dened .by the appended claims.

Referring to .the drawings: ,-Eigure .1;.isralongitudinal .section vthrough -one vforrinof the apparatus, iwiththe parts in Yposition ;CQrrunnngthe apparatus lthrough a vcon- ;duit. string,.,or the .well bore itself;

Fig. ,'2 Ais a view similar to 'FigygL disclosing the apparatus in released position, with the bridge plug portion disposed Yagainst the :wall

.of the conduit string;

Fig. 3 is a .longitudinal section through the upper portion of the apparatus, illustrating'the manner of assembling certain of its parts;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of one form of .bridge plug anchored in packed-01T condition to a well casing string;

Fig. -5is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of the swivel and latch portion of 'the apparatus; and l Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section througha modified form of bridge plug, with its parts in expanded condition.

The apparatus disclosed in the drawings consists of a dump bailer A and bridge plug B adapted to be run 'through a string of well casing C, or other conduit string, on a wire line D to a position at which the plug is to `be set in the casing and the contents of the dump bailer discharged thereupon. The apparatus includes Aa head lll secured to the lower end of the wire line D in any suitable fashion, the head being threaded into a sub II forming the upper end of a tubular body I2, consisting of several sections I3, I4, I5, I6. The upper body section I3 depends from the head and is threaded into a coupling I6, which, 'in turn, is threaded lonto an intermediate 'body portion I4 forming a lcontainer for the cementitious material. The ylower body portion I5 forms a container for both the lower portion .of the charge of cementitious material andthe bridge plug B, being threadedly attached to the intermediate body portion I4.

The external diameter of the container or body .l2 of the apparatus is substantially less than the internal-diameter of the casing string C in which the apparatus is to beused. to allow the apparatus to be lowered withfacility through the casing string to the desired .point at which the bridge plug ,B v.is to be set. The latter is held initially within Athe connes ofthe lower container I5 with its parts in retracted position.

In the form disclosed most clearly in Fig. 4, the bridge plug includes kan upper body I1 of flexible or velastic material, such as rubber, havproof fashion. The plug also includes a similar lower elastic body ,I9 having a downwardly directed lint@ adaptejclfto engagethecasing Wall.

.These llp portions 1.8.20 .oi the upperand'lower v.plugfbo'dies may-expand `oui'lvp'iritl ly t0 a ,substantial extent Ibeyond the diameters of the base portions 2I of the bodies. The latter are made substantially smaller than the inside diameter of the casing string to enable the plug to be conned originally within the lower container I5.

Between the upper and lower bodies I'I, I9 is located a packing cup 22 having an upwardly directed lip portion 23 adapted to seal with the interior of the lower container I5. The plug parts are held in assembled relation by a bolt 24 eX- tending centrally therethrough. Its upper head 25 engages a washer 29 bearing upon the upper end of the upper body I1; while a nut 21 is threaded on its lower end, which can be tightened against a washer 28 engaging the lower body I9, for the purpose of clamping the parts together.

If desired, the plug may also include positive locking elements in the form of laterally disposed dogs or latches 29 whose inner head portions 39 are disposed within sleeves 3| mounted transversely within the lower plug body I9. y'Ihe latches 29 are urged in an outward direction by coil springs 32 disposed within the sleeves 3| and compressed between the latch heads 30 andthe bolt 24. Outward movement of the latches is limited by engagement of the latch heads with terminal anges 33 on thesleeves.

The plug B is inserted within the lower -body container I with its latches 29 retracted by bearing against the inner wall of the container, and with its upper and lower sealing portions IB, 20 forced or folded inwardly to t within the container. Since these sealing portions will not necessarily effect `a continuous circumferential seal with the container, the intermediate packing element 22 is provided for this purpose, in order to prevent any cementitious -material disposed within the container above the plug from dropping from the container I5 or dump bailer (see Fig. l)

The plug B is held in its conned position within the container I5 against a perforated stop 34 threaded into the lower body member I5. The holding means includes a releasable latching device, consisting of a transversely extending pin 35 .fixed to `the bolt head and received within an inverted J type of slot 36 formed in a latch sleeve 31,- that Vis swivelly connected to a holding and actuating rod 38. Initially, the pin 35 is received within the saddle or slot 39 of the sleeve, and serves to prevent the plug from dropping out of the container I5.

The swivel connection (see Fig. 5) between the rod 39 and the latch sleeve-31 includes a connecting element 40 threaded on the lower end of the rod, and also threadedly receiving a screw 4I whose head 42 engages an inturned flange 43 on the upper end of the latch sleeve 31. It is apparent that the latch sleeve 31 may turn relative to the rod 38. Such turning action is availed of Vin effecting relative shifting of the lock pin 35 from the slot portion 39 along an interconnecting inclined slot portion 44 to a long slot portion 45, whose lower end is open in order to permit disconnection between the plug B and sleeve 31.

The lower rod portion 38 is threaded onto an intermediate rod 48 extending upwardly through the body members, where it is attached to a centering sleeve 4'I having radial wings or lugs 48 for centering the rod within the body or container I2.

The plug B and cementitious material conwhose lower end bears upon a piston 59 resting member 41.

4 on the head 5I of the rod 38, and whose upper end bears upon an annular spring seat 52 threadedly secured to the upper body portion I3. The compressed spring 49 is prevented from expanding, and is held in its compressed state by a device which connects the centering member 41 to the head I9 at the upper end of the apparatus. This device consists of a frangible connector 53 threaded into the head I9 and also onto a stud 54 which is threadedly attached to the centering When the frangible connector 53 is broken, the spring is released, expanding downwardly to discharge the plug B and the cementitious material from the container I3, I6, I4, i5. To insure appropriate discharge of the cementitious material, the piston 5I) may have a suitable packing ring 55 slidably engageable with the wall of the container body I4.

The frangible connector 53 may be made of cast iron and is adapted to contain an explosive charge 55 that may have a heating filament 51 therein. The wire line is of the electrical type, containing an electrical conductor connected to the lament 51, in a known manner. The completion of the circuit through the filament will cause the charge 56 to explode and disrupt the connector 53, whereupon the spring 49 can expand.

In order to facilitate assembly of the device, the upper tubular body I3 has a pair of aligned slots 58 through which a bar or key 59 may beinserted for extension through corresponding slots 50 in the centering sleeve 41. The cementitious material is placed in the container I4, I5 and the plug B retracted within its lower end I5 by use of a suitable tool, such as a jack screw,compressing the spring 49 until the slots 58, 60 are aligned, whereupon the key 59 may be inserted through the aligned slots to hold the parts in this position and prevent expansion of the spring. The head I9, with the frangible connector and stud 54 attached, is then threaded into the body I2, and the stud 54 threaded into the sleeve 41, thereby eiecting a connection between the rod 38 and the head IU, which will hold the spring 49 in its compressed condition in the absence ofV the locking key 59, which is then removed.

The apparatus is lowered in the well casing to the desired setting point, the plug B remaining in retracted position and prevented from dropping from the apparatus because of the location of the lock pin 35 in the short slot portion 39 of the look sleeve 31. The annular sealing ring 22 prevents the cementitious material in the container I4, I 5, which may be cement slurry or a licuid synthetic resin, from dropping out of the container.

When the desired point is reached at which the apparatus is to be operated, the circuit through the filament 51 is completed, causing the charge 56 to explode and break the frangible connection 53 (Fig. 2). This action releases the lspring 49, which shifts the piston 50 and rod 38 downwardly, moving the plug B out of the container I5 and allowing its sealing members I8,

V20 to expand against the wallrof the casing C.

During the downward forcing of the plug, the pin 35 is engaged by the inclined surface 44 of the lock slot, which rotates the swivel sleeve 31, and aligns the pin with the long leg 45 of the I slot, which is open at its lower end.v

' ejected plug, whose pin 35 passes through the slot 45 and out ofv the sleeve31,`becoming comi5 pletely tdisengagejd :from .the .trod mechanism. ",lIPhezpistonwO .moves downwardly to its fullest :extent under the factionfof :the spring T49, dis- ;"charging Vthe-cement slurry, or other cementitious ..mate'rial, from--the--container I4; -I 5 `ontopof the -.plug:B. 'lhe dump ;bailer;portion A ofitheap- .-'zparatus may now be removed .-fromthe -wellcas- Vfing by elevating the wireline D.

'.r-Infthe event that-:the :columnf-offluid in the 'well .casingC :below `the plug B is `vimmovable, Ifthe rhatching dogs v.291i are vnot heeded. The fimmov- '.ableorincompressible fluid will .prevent the plug /ifromi-movingdown.Y along the wall of the casing, fthe lower lip 'seal .-20 r-lpreventing `'by-passing `of .iluid Iand iany gravitation :of .the v.plug therethrough. Thefupper lip-.seal |.8 prevents the A fcementitious.I material: deposite'd .on v:top of the :plug `from vmoving .therebelow .As a result, the plugeB .has been disposed sin .the casing rstring with-additionalmaterial.deposited.upon it, which -iw'ill Jset l"and 4 hardenvto form lan I:additional cey.mentitious plug. y A* l Iii-.the eventthatthe--iluid in .-the well .casing belowthe plugB can-move downwardly, the plug :will-be-lowered-by gravity, or the weight of the f cementslurryfontop -of it, `until a coupling 4space .Slis reached, yinto-which the latches-'29 will expand under the impetus of the compressed springs 32 -to lock the plug to the casing. Its .further `'downward `.movement is thereby -prevented. y

Anotherfformof plug is-disclosed 'in Fig. 6, V.which will prevent-movement of the plug along the ycasing from the point at which'it vis ejected from'thecontaineror dump bailer, and without thenecessi-tyiorseeking a coupling space. This pluglincludes upper and lower flexible packing .members Ila, 19a -that are -secured to an intermediate metallic body-'62, of readilydrillable materiaL-by-means of a clamp bolt 24. The`body^62 .has a plurality-of circumferentially'spaced longivtudinalslots 63 in -which upper andy lower gripping members 64,65.may be disposed initially. The upper gripping members 64 are mounted upon .pins.66 .xedin the body 6,2, and are urged outwardlyby compressed springs B1 vbearing against l'the members B4 and against the bases of inclined *sockets V68 formed in theintermediate body portion. The lower gripping members 65 are also Ypivotallyniountd on pins66 secured to the body 62, and are urged outwardly-ina similar man- .;ner. by compressed springs 68. The ends "69 of -the grippingmembers may beserrated-or toothed,

in vorder to grip .the casingmore effectively.

The :upper gripping members 64 face in -a downwardfdirection and will engage the casing to. prevent further downward ymovement of the .plug B. n .the fcontrary, :the lower gripping members S'face in-an'upward direction and will vgrip the casing :to prevent upward movement of 1.'

.the,plug.

The plugtdisclosed.in.1lig. 6 'is adapted :to be disposed.. inthe :lower containerportion 'i 5 in' the fsame mannerfas :the/other fplug, with the Vllip por- :tions El=8a,."2.iaof zthe. packing. cups'or membersirey:tracted zand with the gripping members '64, .-55 heldiineretractedzposition withinthe longitudinal 'slo'ts 63 ibyf the walliof thefcontainer. The .upper fend I0`of the flowerpacking member l-I Sal may be fenga'gementwith. :the wall fofthe container, `to ipreventinadvertentloss 'of the .cementitious ma- ."fterialtheref-rom. n

y.Upon flowering-:of Ithe dump ibailrl-and-Ibridge plug to the desired operating point'itlreliilpls'i've" eject Vithe plug r-rom the container. :such fejection, :the Asprings G, 6 8 expand -thegrip- .pingmembers outwardly to .prevent longitudinal `movemenltof theplug in the vcasing-.the .lip seals v18a,"2tla preventing both .upward and downward passage of fluent substances around the .'plug. The cementitious materialis deposited on top of the `plug in the .same manner as before, to .form

a barrier in the casing above the plug.

v.Itis preferred that substantially allportions of the plugs be made of readily drillable materials, in order to allow the cement plug and .the bridge plug litself .to be disintegrated by adrilling .bit,.if desired.

,It is, accordingly, .apparent that :a bridge' .plug :and .dumpibailerhas been.provided,.which can be .loweredin a well bore -in arapid mannerbymeans of aa wireline, and .1in -which the pluggis, setlji'nwthe icasing and the cementitiousmaterial .deposited .thereon substantially. simultaneously, .ratpza substantial savings in Jtime. lAlthough.theiapparatus ...has been describedspecicallyin connection with a well casing or. similar. conduit string, it -is apparent that the plug can be set in'an open hole, if desired, and cementitious material deposited thereon.

The inventor "claims:

.1. In apparatus of the characterdescribedza container adapted to be lowered in a wellconduit; a, plug disposed in said container to close'its lower portion, said'plug including a packing adapted toseal and form 'a barrier with the wall of said well conduit; means for holding said plug in said container with its packing in retracted position; and means for discharging said 'plug from said container.

2. In apparatus ofthe character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well conduit; a plug disposed in said container to close its lowerportion, said plug including sealing mean-s engageable with the wall of said container and a packing adapted to seal and form a barrier with the wall of said well conduit; means for holding said plug in said container with its packing in retracted position; and means for 'discharging said plug from said container.

3. -In apparatus of the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well'conduit; a plug disposed 'in said container to close its lower portion; said plug including a packing adapted to seal and form a barrier with the wall of said well conduit; means in said container for discharging said plug from said container; holding means engageable with said discharging means'or preventing operation of said discharging means;'and means for releasingsaid holding means.

4."In apparatus of the character describe'dza .container adapted to be lowere'din a'well conduit; Ia plug disposed in said container to close its -l'owe'r portion, said vplug including devices for anchoring said plug in said well conduit, said plug also includingfa packing adapted toseal and forma barrier with the wall o'f said Well conduit; means'for holding said plug vin said container with its anchoring devices and packing lin retracted positions; vand means for discharging .fs'aid'plugv from said container.

'5. In apparatus of the character described: a `container adapted to-be lowered in a well conduit; va plug disposed in said container to close Aits lower portion, said plug vincluding sealing means eng'ageable with the'wall of said containerandfa packing adapted to seal and form a Ibarrieriwith said well conduit, said plug also includingdevices engageable with said well conduit for anchoring said plug in said well conduit; means for holding said plug in said container with its anchoring devices and packing in retracted positions; and means for discharging said plug from said container.

l6. In apparatus of the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well conduit; a plug disposed in said container to close its lower portion, said plug including sealing means engageable with said container and packing means adapted to'seal with the wall of said well conduit to prevent uid passage around said plug in both longitudinal directions, said plug also including devices engageable with said well conduit for preventing longitudinal movement of the plug in both longitudinal directions; means for holding said plug in said container with its devices and packing means in retracted positions; and means for discharging said plug from said container.

'7. In apparatus ofA the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well conduit; a plug disposed in said container to close its lower portion; said plug including a packing adapted to seal and form a barrier with the wall of said well conduit; means in said container for discharging said plug from said container; holding means engageable with said discharging means for preventing operation of said discharging means; and means comprising an explosive for releasing said holding means to allow said discharging means to discharge said plug from said container.

8. In apparatus of the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well conduit on a wire line; a plug disposed in said container to close its lower portion, said plug including a packing adapted to seal and form a, barrier with the wall of said well conduit; means for discharging said plug from said con'- tainer; holding means engageable with said discharging means for preventing `operation of said discharging means; and means comprising,

electrically operable instrumentalities for releasing said holding means to allow said discharging nieans to discharge said plug from said container.

9. In apparatus of the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well conduit; a plug disposed in said container to close its lower portion; said plug including a packing adapted to seal and form a barrier with the wall of said well conduit; spring operated means in said container operable for discharging said plug from said container; holding means engageable with said spring operated means for preventing operation of said spring operated means; and means for releasing said holding means.

10. In apparatus of the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well conduit; a plug disposed in said container to close its lower portion; said plug including a packing adapted to seal and form a barrier with the wall of said well conduit; spring operated means in said container operable for discharging said plug from said container; means comprising a frangible connection for engaging and preventing operation of said spring operated means; and an explosive for disrupting said frangible connection for permitting said spring operated means to discharge said plug from said container.

11. In apparatus of the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well conduit and capable of holding a volume of cementitious material; a plug disposed in said container to close its lower portion; said plug including a, packing adapted to seal and form a barrier with the wall of said well conduit; means for discharging said 'plug from said container, said means including a piston slidable along the wall of said container at the upper end of said volume of cementitious material for ejecting said cementitious material from said container; holding means for maintaining said piston and discharging meansin an upward position and for holding said plug in said container; and means for releasing said holding means.

12. In apparatus of the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well conduit; a plug disposed in said container to close its lower portion; said plug including' a packing adapted to seal with said well conduit; means for discharging said plug from said container; holding means engageable with said dischargingv means for preventing operation of said discharging means; means for releasing said holding means; and means providing a releasable connection between said plug and discharging means.

13. In a plug adapted to be placed in a well conduit: a body means having upwardly and downwardly facing flexible well conduit sealing elements; a flexible sealingmember on said vbody means of substantially lesser external diameter than the maximum external diameter of said sealing elements; and means connected to said body means and extending upwardly coaxially therefrom to provide a connection for releasably securing said body means to another member.

14. In ya plug adapted to be set in a well conduit: body means having upwardly and downwardly facing ilexible well conduit sealing elements; a flexible sealing member on said body means of substantially lesser external diameter than the maximum external diameter of said sealing elements; anchoring elements carried by said body means; means for urging said anchoring elements outwardly; and means connected to said body means and extending upwardly coaxially therefrom to provide a connection for releasably securing said body means to another member.

15. In apparatus of the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well conduit; a plug disposed in said container to close its lower portion, said plug including a packing adapted to seal and 'form a barrier with said well conduit; means for holding said plug in said container with its packing conned in retracted position within said container; and means for discharging said plug from said container to enable said packing to expand and seal with said well conduit.

16. In apparatus of the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well conduit; a plug disposed in said container to close its lower portion, said plug including sealing means engageablewith the wall of said container and a packing adapted to seal and form a barrier with said well conduit; means for holding said plug in said container with its packing confined in retracted position within said container; and means for dis-charging said plug from said container to enable said packing to expand outwardly into sealing engagement with saidwe1lconduit.

17. n apparatus of the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well bore; a plug disposed across the lower portion of said container to close the same, said plug including a packing adapted to seal and form a barrier with said well bore; means extending upwardly and secured within said container for holding said plug in closed position across said container; and means for shifting said holding means longitudinally of said container to release said plug from said container.

18. In apparatus of the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well bore; a plug disposed across the lower portion of said container to close the same, said plug including a packing adapted to seal and form a barrier with said well bore; means extending upwardly and secured within said container for holding said plug in closed position across said container, said holding means including a connection releasably secured to said plug; and means for shifting said holding means longitudinally of said container to release said connection and enable said plug to be released from said container.

19. In apparatus of the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well conduit; a plug disposed in said container to close its lower portion, said plug including sealing means engageable with the wall of said container and a packing adapted to seal and form a barrier with said well conduit, said plug also including devices for anchoring said plug in said well conduit; means for holding said plug in said container with its packing and anchoring 10 devices confined in retracted position within. said container; and means for releasing said holding means to release the plug for removal from said container to enable its packing and anchoring devices to expand into engagement with the well conduit.

20. In apparatus of the character described: a container adapted to be lowered in a well bore and capable of holding a volume of cementitious material; a plug closing the lower portion of said container, said plug having means engageable with the Wall of said well bore to form a bridge in said well bore upon ejection of said plug from said container; means movable downwardly within said container and engageable with said plug for removing said plug from said container and for forcing the cementitious material from said container; and power operated means for urging said means downwardly in said container.

A. W. TUCKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,829,666 Minster Oct. 27, 1931 1,872,855 Walker Aug. 23, 1932 2,076,307 Wells et al Apr. 6, 1937 2,086,409 Emery July 6, 1937 2,189,445 Dale Feb. 6, 1940 2,257,784 Brown Oct. 7, 1941 

